New on DVD/Blu-ray: Alice in Wonderland (2010)

Tim Burton and kooky go together like peanut butter and jelly. Or eggs and ham and a little sprinkling of crazy sparkles. Which is why when Disney gave Tim Burton the keys to the Alice in Wonderland convertible, it was probably the easiest decision they ever made. The film did spectacular business in theaters, and now Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment will be releasing Burton’s version of “Alice” on DVD on June 1st, 2010. “Alice in Wonderland” will come in standard DVD, Blu-Ray, and for you adventurous types out there, a DVD/Blu-Ray/Digital Combo Pack.

Tumble down the rabbit hole with Alice for a fantastical new adventure from Walt Disney Pictures and Tim Burton. Inviting and magical, ALICE IN WONDERLAND is an imaginative new twist on some of the most beloved stories of all time. Alice (Mia Wasikowska), now 19 years old, returns to the whimsical world she first entered as a child and embarks on a journey to discover her true destiny. Wonderland is a world beyond your imagination and unlike anything you’ve seen before. The extraordinary characters you’ve loved come to life richer and more colorful than ever. There’s the Mad Hatter (Johnny Depp), the White Queen (Anne Hathaway), the Red Queen (Helena Bonham Carter), the White Rabbit (Michael Sheen) and more. A triumphant cinematic experience – ALICE IN WONDERLAND is an incredible feast for your eyes, ears and heart that will captivate audiences of all sizes.

THE MOVIE:

Buoyed by Burton mainstays Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter (aka Mrs. Tim Burton), “Alice in Wonderland” finds fresh-faced newcomer Mia Wasikowska playing an all grown up Alice, who returns to Wonderland (or Underland, actually) to help free the land from the rule of the Red Queen (Carter, hilarious with bloated head). “Alice in Wonderland” is exactly what you would expect from a Tim Burton film — fun, adventurous, and more than a little surreal. Okay, so it’s a lot surreal. The lack of 3D takes away some of the film’s more in-your-face scenes designed for 3D theater viewing, but there are still more than plenty here to sink one’s teeth into. As befitting a film of this production, the DVD special features (whether standard DVD or Blu-ray) are overwhelming. Got a couple of days to spend in Wonderland? No audio commentaries from the cast and crew, though, which is always disappointing.

SPECS:

DVD Bonus Features:

Finding Alice – It’s all things Alice. This featurette includes Tim Burton’s vision for the characters, differences from the book and Disney’s version of Alice and how she evolves as both a character and actor as she takes an adventure through Wonderland.

The Mad Hatter – Audiences are provided with a deeper look into the world of the Mad Hatter. Check out Johnny Depp’s early sketches, make-up, costumes and how they digitally enhanced his eyes.

Effecting Wonderland – A behind-the-scenes piece on the different technologies used to create some of the most beloved characters in the film – Stayne, Tweedledee, Tweedledum, Bandersnatch and the Red Queen.

Blu-ray Bonus Features:

The Blu-ray has everything the standard DVD has, but it also includes the following special features:

The Futterwacken Dance – Futterwhat? Check out the making of the timeless dance called the Futterwacken.

The Red Queen – The creation of the Red Queen from start to finish, including early Tim Burton sketches showcasing costume designs, make-up and digital effects.

Time-Lapse: Sculpting the Red Queen – A short time-lapse piece showing Helena Bonham Carter as she gets her make-up done. A three-hour process can be watched in just a few short minutes.

The White Queen – An interview with Anne Hathaway, who plays Wonderland’s good queen, about her character’s journey throughout the process of the film.

Scoring Wonderland – Composer Danny Elfman and Tim Burton discuss the music for the movie.

Stunts of Wonderland – A featurette highlighting some of the biggest stunts in the film.

Making the Proper Size – An inside look at the visual effects process of growing and shrinking Alice. See how filmmakers used different techniques to stay true to the storyline.

Cakes of Wonderland – Take a trip to “Cake Divas” where the creators of the EAT ME cakes provide viewers with details about how they made the smallest crumb to the largest cake in scale.

Tea Party Props – Tea cups, saucers, cakes and more. Prop master Doug Harlocker gives an overview of all the props used to bring the famous tea party scene together visually.